Rubio led her into a back room with flashing strobe lights and lipped-locked couples swaying on the dance floor. The music was fast but their bodies moved slow. He said, “Let’s dance,” and immediately reached for her butt using both hands. The disco ball flashed a rainbow stripe across his cheek. She aimed for it when she slapped him with a twak!

She marched away passing people squished so close their bellies touched. The bar’s beer signs flickered on and off casting shadows on panting silhouettes. Clusters of couples wiggled behind curtains of beads and steam. Michelle wondered what it was like to be kissed. She was the last of her friends because she had always been a tomboy and a late bloomer. She wanted her first kiss to be like it was in the movies and she determined this summer would be it.

In the corner of the room, she played a video game called Galaga. It was difficult to concentrate. She was distracted by a couple making out next to the bathroom. Another one of her spaceships had died when someone arrived and breathed over her shoulder.

“Hola americana.”

“Buzz off,” she said.

He leaned in a bit closer. “¿Cómo estás?”

“Mal,” she said.

“¿Por qué?” He put his hands above her head on either side of the video console.

“Porque, I don’t like you,” she said. She was pounding on the fire button. Her elbow jabbed his gut. She didn’t care.

“¿Por qué?” he insisted. She finally gave up and turned to leave. She smacked straight into Luis. His chest smelled of burned wood, cigarettes, and sea air.

“Mira,” he said. He took her by the shoulders and faced her to the screen. She wanted to show off for him but she was so nervous she instantly died.

“I try,” he said. He put his hand over hers. They glided with the movement of the spaceship. His legs wedged into the nook behind her knees. They screamed when the multi-colored invaders attacked.

He shouted, “Oh my God! Oh my God! No, No, No!” She laughed throwing her head back and knocked him in the chin. She felt so bad about it that without thinking, she reached for his face to apologize when the stubble of his jaw shocked her.

When their last man blew up, Luis slammed his fist against the control panel. He shouted at the Martians, cursing them and their madres. His theatrics cracked her up, but this time she stopped mid-laugh, because he had paused, and in the stillness, stared at her as if he wanted to devour her.

He asked, “Again?”

She said, “Nah, you stink,” and rolled her eyes. She was too embarrassed to say she had no money left.